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An Equestrian Life

F#, Horses
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May 20, 2020

The Dominant Horse

Stu is a dominant horse. It took me a surprisingly long time to realize this. 

There were many times I made excuses for his behavior. He’s a little bit slow, he doesn’t understand what I want, etc. etc. 

But what actually is taking place is he just doesn’t want to do it. He’s incredibly lazy, and he doesn’t like being told what to do. 

I already knew he was a bit a jerk, but I didn’t realize it was the manifestation of a dominant personality until two things happened. 

First, I started watching YouTube videos for ground work ideas. In one of them, someone had a horse that was acting like a jerk, and the trainer said it was because the horse was lazy and didn’t want to cooperate. So in that case, it was like a blaring horn in my face. 

I tried to use some of the ground work techniques in the video, but Stu was refusing to cooperate and pawing at the ground in protest. It was a little bit frustrating. After a very small level of his cooperation, I decided it was just something we would work on. 

The very next day the farrier comes out to trim everyone. Stu goes first, to get the most complicated one out of the way.

He’s not difficult for the farrier, but of all four equines, he requires the most hand holding to behave. He was mostly fine, and went back into his stall. 

We started on the next one, angelic Pony, while Stu watched. Stu decided he wasn’t happy being ignored, and started pawing at his stall door. His stall door is currently a gate until I build a wooden one, and he was sticking his hoof and leg fully through the bars, and then backing up, trying to pull the gate with him. He did this several times while I yelled at him, getting exactly zero results.

My farrier and I had been discussing Stu’s manners for a few visits. My farrier grew up in Wales, is an avid foxhunter, and buys and sells horses at his barn. Growing up, he and his mom would buy horses, train them, and sell them.

My farrier observed Stu for a moment, and then walked over, and popped him right in the muzzle. Stu leapt backwards to a corner of the stall, shocked. After hiding for a few moments, he crept back up, preparing to raise his leg again. My farrier took a step towards him, and Stu retreated to the back of the stall. After that moment, Stu was in love with my farrier. I swear I could see the little hearts in his eyes.

He stood silent and still by his gate, watching the other horses get trimmed. He watched my farrier with awe. It was obvious Stu now realized that my farrier was the herd leader, and all he wanted was to be near him. 

Now, I’m not a fan of hitting horses in the head. Neither is my farrier, as he explained afterward. It makes them headshy, and it’s just not very nice. However, a well timed and efficient smack could be exactly what an ill mannered horse needs. In this case, it worked perfectly.

After the farrier left, Stu’s behavior was so different, it was almost like he was a different horse. He usually follows me around the field, uncomfortably close. This time, he stood a distance away and waited until I invited him forward. When he got too nosy, I just stomped the ground and he retreated 5 feet. 

I pulled him out to the do the ground word exercises, and he listened. He was extremely respectful. The change was amazing.

I’m not advocating popping a horse in the muzzle. But I am advocating standing up for yourself. Horses don’t see kindness the way we see it, at least not the dominant ones. They see strength, and they see weakness. Stu thought I was weak. He might be right, since my farrier is the one that got him in order. But I’m determined to prove otherwise. I actually asked if my farrier can come by a few times and teach me how to work with Stu. 

With such a dramatic change in one afternoon, I’m feeling really optimistic about what a few sessions would do. 

I’ve also ordered a rope halter. A standard halter doesn’t give enough control, and I don’t think my cavesson fits him well enough to give control. 

I am so excited for when it comes. It’s going to be a thrilling few days of ground work!

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Fashion has been inspired by equestrians for a long time, and likely a long time to come. It's a classic, beautiful look. It's form and function. It's sport and elegance. We equestrians like it, and it's nice that others appreciate it too, even if the fashion interpretation isn't always practical.

Next time you have a dirty ride, remember that even at your messiest, you're a fashion icon. You just happen to get up close and personal with dirt.

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Fashion has been inspired by equestrians for a long time, and likely a long time to come. It's a classic, beautiful look. It's form and function. It's sport and elegance. We equestrians like it, and it's nice that others appreciate it too, even if the fashion interpretation isn't always practical. Next time you have a dirty ride, remember that even at your messiest, you're a fashion icon. You just happen to get up close and personal with dirt. #equestrianfashion #fashion #style #horsestyle #equestrian #horses #horsegirl #riding #countrystyle #countrygirl #oldmoneylooks #horsesofinstagram
4 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
1/6
FINALLY got some mounted photos on my boy! I can't believe it took this long, but I'm happy it finally happened. Stu loved just standing here, it was his favorite part of the whole ride. He's a good stander, and I'm a good sitter, I'm  wearing my amazing @syncequestrian breeches so I'm basically glued to him.

Thank you @nataliaornatascha you're so good at this!! 

#equestrianlife #horsesofinstagram #instahorse #warmbloodsofinstagram #equestrian #ridinglife #horses #horsephotos
FINALLY got some mounted photos on my boy! I can't believe it took this long, but I'm happy it finally happened. Stu loved just standing here, it was his favorite part of the whole ride. He's a good stander, and I'm a good sitter, I'm  wearing my amazing @syncequestrian breeches so I'm basically glued to him.

Thank you @nataliaornatascha you're so good at this!! 

#equestrianlife #horsesofinstagram #instahorse #warmbloodsofinstagram #equestrian #ridinglife #horses #horsephotos
aneqlife
aneqlife
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Follow
FINALLY got some mounted photos on my boy! I can't believe it took this long, but I'm happy it finally happened. Stu loved just standing here, it was his favorite part of the whole ride. He's a good stander, and I'm a good sitter, I'm wearing my amazing @syncequestrian breeches so I'm basically glued to him. Thank you @nataliaornatascha you're so good at this!! #equestrianlife #horsesofinstagram #instahorse #warmbloodsofinstagram #equestrian #ridinglife #horses #horsephotos
3 months ago
View on Instagram |
2/6
There's nothing like a summer day with horses. You may end up dirty and sweaty, but you'll never be so happy.

#horselife #horsesofinstagram #instahorse #horsefarm #virginia #horsecountry #countryside #farmlife #lovehorses
There's nothing like a summer day with horses. You may end up dirty and sweaty, but you'll never be so happy.

#horselife #horsesofinstagram #instahorse #horsefarm #virginia #horsecountry #countryside #farmlife #lovehorses
There's nothing like a summer day with horses. You may end up dirty and sweaty, but you'll never be so happy.

#horselife #horsesofinstagram #instahorse #horsefarm #virginia #horsecountry #countryside #farmlife #lovehorses
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There's nothing like a summer day with horses. You may end up dirty and sweaty, but you'll never be so happy. #horselife #horsesofinstagram #instahorse #horsefarm #virginia #horsecountry #countryside #farmlife #lovehorses
5 months ago
View on Instagram |
3/6
Well, after you disappear for a while, reappearing in Iceland is pretty cool. Good thing I now have the travel bug because I still need to ride an Icelandic horse there. But just seeing it was still pretty incredible!

#iceland #blacksand #travel #travelgram #travellife #icelandtravel
Well, after you disappear for a while, reappearing in Iceland is pretty cool. Good thing I now have the travel bug because I still need to ride an Icelandic horse there. But just seeing it was still pretty incredible!

#iceland #blacksand #travel #travelgram #travellife #icelandtravel
Well, after you disappear for a while, reappearing in Iceland is pretty cool. Good thing I now have the travel bug because I still need to ride an Icelandic horse there. But just seeing it was still pretty incredible!

#iceland #blacksand #travel #travelgram #travellife #icelandtravel
Well, after you disappear for a while, reappearing in Iceland is pretty cool. Good thing I now have the travel bug because I still need to ride an Icelandic horse there. But just seeing it was still pretty incredible!

#iceland #blacksand #travel #travelgram #travellife #icelandtravel
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Well, after you disappear for a while, reappearing in Iceland is pretty cool. Good thing I now have the travel bug because I still need to ride an Icelandic horse there. But just seeing it was still pretty incredible! #iceland #blacksand #travel #travelgram #travellife #icelandtravel
5 months ago
View on Instagram |
4/6
He makes me happy but also causes confused and vacant expressions, but like, overall, pretty happy

#horsesofinstagram #horsegirl #equestrian #instahorse #horselife
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He makes me happy but also causes confused and vacant expressions, but like, overall, pretty happy #horsesofinstagram #horsegirl #equestrian #instahorse #horselife
9 months ago
View on Instagram |
5/6
When you have to  guess at what your trainer said 🤷 more leg is always acceptable

#horsesofinstagram #instahorse #equestrian #horses #horselife #moreleg #ridinglesson
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When you have to guess at what your trainer said 🤷 more leg is always acceptable #horsesofinstagram #instahorse #equestrian #horses #horselife #moreleg #ridinglesson
9 months ago
View on Instagram |
6/6
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